Huckabee's NIE Defense: Bush "Had It For Four Years," Didn't Read It

National Journal:

Mike Huckabee in Greensboro, N.C. tonight tried to respond to concerns about his lack of familiarity with the National Intelligence Estimate. Digging a deeper ditch? You decide ...

Well, first off all it was kind of an ambush question. It came out at ten in the morning, I think it was late that afternoon and the reporter said: Have you read it? You know, George Bush had had it for four years, and he hadn't read it yet, so I don't really know that it was a big deal that I had not yet seen it and read it because we had been on the campaign trail nonstop. In fact I was saying to the reporters, you know the reason I haven't seen it is because you guys have been tailing me all day asking me questions.

Read the whole story: National Journal

Comments

[lungfish]

Its always someone elses fault, isn't it Mike?

You still aren't convincing us that you would be better than Dubya... in fact, every time you open your mouth you further demonstrate your lack of qualification for the job.

If a Republican with integrity, respect for America's diversity, who understood and respected the concept of separation of Church and state, who sought to develop and maintain governance in a constitutional manner rather than by proclamation backed by secret legal opinions were to step up, I might vote for that person.

You definitely aren't getting my vote and I am hard pressed to find a Republican or a Democrate who would.

[Grannysue]

Huck doesn't have time to read that crap, he's too busy studying bible scriptures so he can impress those who plan on voting for him. Remember as long as you hold the bible in one hand and flag in the other the GOPERS will just love you too pieces!

[leftbehind2000]

this guy needs better handlers.

[sugarmoes]

so.... you're dumber than bush? who could've imagined THAT????

[Lemeritus]

Stunning how Huckabee continues to stumble over this issue!

First of all, the declassified NIE "Key Judgments" report is a mere 4-page .pdf. It doesn't even take a staff to distill a document of this size.

Second, I'm pretty sure Mr. Bush read the 2002 NIE (Iraq's Continuing Programs for Weapons of Mass Destruction) and probably the one in 2005 (Iran Is Judged 10 Years From Nuclear Bomb) even though the '05 findings, while alarming, were LESS ALARMING than the White House really wanted.

Is Huckabee really presidential material?????

[stlrfan]

I don't worry about this stuff now, when I get to the Whitehouse, I'll just call God and he'll fill me in.

[criscokid]

I guess it didn't come up during his conference call with Chuck Norris and Jesus...

[WinterIsComing]

I heard he was too busy in a bathroom stall next to larry craig to read the report. Its hard to concentrate on reading with all that toe tapping and fondling going on.

[TakeNoNeoConPrisoners]

Just the kind of pResident we need in 2008 with his finger on the "nucular" button and his head up his ass listening to Jesus.

[EyeWantOneNation]

What really irks me, is that he's talking about Bush having the report for four years...and didn't read it!!

This idiot STILL doesn't understand the reporter who asked him if he read the NIE report, was talking about the BREAKING NEWS of the one released to the public THIS WEEK!!!

He just doesn't get it!!!

Huck..."ya mean there's a new one...just came out???? ......oh!......

[Stretchumall]

Anybody who knows anything about anything knows about the NIE.

Got Rope?

[ljsfolly]

Huckabee is a joke at best to think he can call the question about his thoughts about the recent NIE repport an ambush! The report was the talk of the world and he had no clue was stupid and shows his campain people had not done their job to tell him the report was important and what it meant. That he won't read and he thinks that served bush well for any time makes me wonder how he got out on the candidate trail to begin with. The facts about the rapist and killer is just the top off what is inside this man and what he thinks of our country.

[Dandy12]

Americans do deserve a better answer (or a real answer) rather that one of deflection and avoidance. Should Huck not have the time to read the report in its entirity, she should have some idiot advising him on foreign relations (not his forte) provide him with a synopsis, an encapsulated version of the report and documented contributors! Subsequently, he should formulate and verbalize an opinion. What a dummy!!

Maybe the REPS need someone equivalent to a Joe Biden around. Lucky for us, they don't have one. McCain the neocon's Neocon doesn't come close. Most of the time, McCain looks like an old angry hampster!

[Grunty1]

THIS comment will toast Huck.

Reasoning people will see he is LAZIER THAN BUSH.
Unreasoning people (aka Republicans) will see it as an attack on their Dear Leader.

[ErnestineBass]

Huck has succeeded now in shooting himself in both feet.
Watch his fund-raising tank. He's history.